Indian designers shine at Paris Haute Couture Week

Indian designers are making a notable mark at Paris Haute Couture Week, a prestigious event in the global fashion industry. Manish Malhotra, 59, is the fourth Indian designer to feature on the official Paris calendar, joining Rahul Mishra, Gaurav Gupta, and Vaishali S. This increased representation is seen as long overdue for a country with a deep history in textiles and craftsmanship.

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I think it was long overdue.

Malhotra, who recently presented a collection inspired by his late mother, expressed the significance of the platform. "There's nothing bigger than Paris Haute Couture. This is the ultimate platform," he told AFP. He emphasized India's cultural richness in texture, textiles, architecture, and jewelry, stating it was "high time" for its designers to be recognized on this stage.

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India is so culturally rich in terms of texture and textile, architecture, jewels, embroidery. It has such a heritage of kings and queens.

The French Haute Couture and Fashion Federation has been actively working to diversify the labels featured in Paris, extending invitations to designers from outside traditional Western markets. Malhotra's participation underscores his international ambitions, following his success with Bollywood costumes, couture, and bridalwear, as well as recent ventures into jewelry, beauty, and an overseas boutique in Dubai.

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You know, I think it was high time.

His presence in Paris follows a viral moment at the Met Gala, where he wore a jacket and cape celebrating Mumbai. Having dressed international celebrities like Rihanna and Jennifer Lopez, Malhotra is now contemplating his next challenge, potentially an atelier in Paris or a store in New York, after 35 years in the industry.

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There's nothing bigger than Paris Haute Couture. This is the ultimate platform.